Killzone: Shadow Fall Reviews
Warzone multiplayer rounds out the Killzone: Shadow Fall package, and is exactly what you would expect from Killzone multiplayer. Gameplay-wise it resembles that of Killzone 3 very much, and isn't that big of an evolution for a next-gen title. Warzone matches are highly customizable, leading to some fun or hectic situations. And there's a great active community of Killzone players just waiting to start playing and occupy those servers, which have been very stable thus far.
The future of first-person shooter looks an awful lot like the past.
At the end of the day you will find a 7-10 hour campaign within Killzone Shadow Fall. The only reason to replay it will be for the visuals or the story, as Battlefield 4 will certainly cast a deeper/better shadow in terms of first-person shooter gameplay when you're trying to decide between Killzone or it. BF4 will also outshine the multiplayer aspect of Killzone Shadow Fall, which features huge levels, good modes/matches to play, but dreadfully slow gameplay that keep it from being the reason to purchase KZ over other FPS titles at launch. Having said that, it's Killzone and it will fight nicely with the other Killzone games on your shelf. It still brings some of the most intense campaign gameplay in comparison to other FPS titles at launch, and brings some unique elements (enemy A.I. and the OWL) to make it worth your time and money.
Depending on what you're looking for, Killzone: Shadow Fall is either a hit or a miss. If you're looking for something to showcase the power of the PS4, this does the job very well. A few missteps aside, the graphics are beautiful and present something rarely seen in the previous generation of console shooters. If you're looking for a solid multiplayer experience, the game works well. The shooting feels right, the progression system is good, and the constantly rotating objectives keep things fresh. If you're looking for a solid single-player experience, Shadow Fall doesn't provide that. Despite a better plot, the story is jammed down your throat. The game should be in your launch library if you're invested in a stable, sci-fi multiplayer shooter.
Killzone: Shadow Fall is a good game, and it hints at a rosy future for shooters and video game in general. I remain disappointed at the surprisingly outdated drawbacks, such as audio balancing, silly AI and occasionally unconvincing acting, but the result is still agreeable. The graphics are a definite highlight, the OWL drone works very well, and the more open and immensely detailed landscape infuses the campaign with branching, compelling energy.
Most of the time Shadow Fall is confident about what kind of game it is, and it's when it leaves players to decide how they want to fight it shines.
Killzone: Shadow Fall will be best known for the visual showcase on day one of the PS4's launch, but looking past the graphics, the game boosts a very solid multiplayer experience and lengthy campaign. The campaign can be frustrating at times and the pacing is inconsistent, especially late in the game where it feels like you are defending a room against waves of incoming Helghast soldiers every 20 minutes.
As it stands, Killzone's foray into the next generation with Killzone: Shadow Fall is a good one. Though the game is held back by a lackluster story and certain missing features, it does deliver a fun experience and it is the only first-person shooter of its kind currently on the PlayStation 4.
When compared to past Killzone titles, we found Shadow Fall to have one of the better campaigns. There are some tedious tasks found during the latter half of the game that hurt the game's flow. Regardless, Killzone: Shadow Fall is a quality first-person shooter, making it a definite play for PS4 early adopters.
There's no doubt that Killzone: Shadow Fall is far and away the best PlayStation 4 launch title. It feels fresh and innovative throughout – after playing it, we checked out Call of Duty: Ghosts on the PS4, which felt one-dimensional and strangely old-fashioned – looks stunning and through its beautifully fettled multiplayer side, offers infinite replay value. It towers above previous versions of Killzone in terms of quality and taking a much more interesting approach. All of which makes it the one must-buy exclusive in the PS4's launch line-up.
For those wanting to show off their new console, Killzone: Shadow Fall is the game to do it with. A reasonable, lengthy but frustrating single player campaign paves the way for a compelling multiplayer experience the likes of which you've never seen before – visually speaking, anyway. Select easy-mode and you'll have more fun overall, but if Guerrilla are to continue with the Killzone series, they need to come up with some fresh ideas for the set pieces, and try to create a more streamlined difficulty. Otherwise, this is more Killzone, but looking better than ever before – and that's saying something.
Killzone: Shadow Fall is not a perfect game. It has design flaws and the story is lacking, but it's a whole lot of fun and a great showcase for what the PS4 can do.
As a package, it's a superb launch title and a great first person shooter. Killzone's back, and we can't wait to see where it takes us next.
I had more fun with this entry than any other game in the series
Sure, Killzone: Shadow Fall has its lulls, but it's a mostly enjoyable experience from start to finish. This is no doubt the PlayStation 4's strongest exclusive launch title.
Killzone: Shadow Fall is a worthy game to purchase alongside your PlayStation 4.
As it is, it's still a sterling shooter that shows off the potential of the PS4's powerful hardware, and an easy recommendation for PS4 owners looking for their futuristic shooter fix.
I like how Guerilla Games went to a path that Killzone: Shadow Fall has taken. It was not your ordinary shooter game that you run and shoot, but a first-person shooter that gives out some diversity in its formula. Killzone: Shadow Fall never failed to deliver what a next-generation title should be, and it's still worth it to play today.
Next Gen has dawned a new era for the Killzone franchise. Killzone: Shadow Fall certainly looks pretty on the eye, but is it the next gen game that we had hoped for? Let's enlist to fight against the evil Helghast and find out.
In the end, despite an unmemorable story, I quite liked Shadow Fall's campaign simply from a design perspective alone. By ditching overbearing auto-aim, bending linearity and actually posing a real challenge at times, it's a fun experience and PS4 could do a lot worse for a debut title. I don't know if the series will ever explode in popularity, but for now, it's done its job showcasing the new abilities of the PS4.
